Reinforcing structure for airships and the like



R. H. UPSON.

BEINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR AIRSHIPS AND THE LIKE.

. APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, I918. 1,332,780.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

RALPH H. UPSON, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGHOB TO THE GOODYE AB & RUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BEINFOROING STRUCTURE FOR AIBSHIPS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920-.

Application filed July 29, 1918. Serial No. 247,207.

. citizen of the United States, and resident of Akron, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements 'in Reinforcing Structures for Airships and the like, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to new and useful improvements in aircraft construction; and it has particular reference to an improved stiffening and bracing devlce for the envelop of the so-called bllmp type of dirigible balloons.

With reference to the drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts:

Figure 1 shows the improved device, the envelop being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the envelop, and shows a plurallty of the improved devices arranged within the envelop;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the means for connecting the cable to the envelop; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary vlews showing the means for adjustably connecting the cable to the envelop.

The envelop 10 may be of any suitable or approved design since m present invention is not concerned at all w1th the construction or any specific conformation of the envelop, but concerns only the provision of the novel and improved form of stiffening or bracing device whereby the envelop may be smoothed and tautened, and maintained in the desired conformation during flight. More specifically, my invention consists in the application lengthwise of the envelop 10 of one or more cables 11.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the cables 11 extend from the nose portion to the tail portion of the envelop 10, being suitably held in place by connecting them to intermediate points of thev envelop 10. The cables 11 will be of such size and weight as are practically suited to the lifting capacity of the balloon, the size of the envelop, and other obvious factors.

The cable 11, according to my' resent invention, has two functions to per orm. The

first function is obviously to stiffen and hold the envelop rigid, and this it accomplishes unless an actual severe buckle takes lace. The second function is to prevent the rooping of the tail of the envelop or gas bag when the rear ballonnet is filledwith air. The provision of the cables 11 has another advantage, moreover, in that it permits the taking up of fullness in the fabric; such fullness ordinarily being due to faulty tailoring or unequal stretch of the fabric in portions of the envelop. The taking up of the fullness in the fabric by the cables 11 is an important feature, inasmuch as the initial elimination of all depressions, folds and creases in the envelop will better give the envelop the required smooth and taut surface, than would be the case if the stiffening device were applied merely to resist the air pressures which tend to cause the depressions, folds and creases.

As shown in this instance, the cables 11 are preferablyarranged in the spine and also in the belly of the envelop 10, and, in order to obtain a larger degree of adjustment, a pair of cables 11 are preferably arranged in alinement in the spine and a pair of cables 11 are also arranged in alinement in the belly; each pair of cables having adjacent ends thereof adjustably connected to the central portion of the envelop, and having the remote ends thereof adjustabl connected to the end portions of the envelbp. Each cable 11 has its ends suitably connected to turn buckles 12, which are provided with eyes 13 whereby they are connected by shackles 14 to rings 15 to which latter are suitably connected ropes 16 and 17 which are connected to the envelop by means of patches 18 and 19 suitably secured to the envelop. Adjacent to the ropes 16 chafing strips 20 are attached to the envelop 10, and adjacent to the turn buckles 12, the chafing strips 21 and chafing patches 22 are suitably attached to the envelop. The cables 11 are preferably disposed in'rubber tubes 23 which are covered with fabric 24 provided with projections 25 for attachment to the envelop 10. At the ends of the coverings 24- of the cables 11 are wound the central portion of cords 26 which are preferably somewhat elastic and have their end portions attached to patches 27 secured-to the envelop 10.

' envelop, lengthwise of said balloon and in nor of use and the advantages of the improved stiffening device willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be seen that the cables 11 are so connected to the envelop 10 that they are adapted to stiffen and brace the\envelop, and it willbe understood that by adjustment of the turn buckles 12 the tension on any of 'the cables 11 can be regulated to control and maintainthe conformation of the envelop 10.

What I claim is:

1. The combination witha balloon envelop, of a pair of flexiblev reinforcing elements laid end to endwithin the balloon envelop, the adjacent ends of said reinforcing elements being connected to the envelop near the central portion thereof, and the remote ends of said reinforcing elements being adjustably connected to the end portions of the balloon envelo 2. The" combination witli a balloon envelop, of a pair of flexible reinforcing elements laid end to end within the balloon substantial alinement, the adjacent ends of said reinforcing elements being adjustably connected to the balloon envelop near the central 'portion thereof, and the remote ends of said elements having adjustable connection with the end portions of said balloon envelop;

3. The combination with a balloon envelop, of a plurality of flexible reinforcing elements disposed in airs in an end to end position I within the 1 alloon envelop, each of said reinforcing elements being connected throughout its length to the balloon envelop,

and adjusting means connecting the adjacent ends of said reinforcing elements to the envelop, whereby selected areas of the envelop fabric are strengthened and may be adjusted.

4. The combination with a balloon envelop, of a plurality of flexible reinforcing elements disposed in pairs in an end to end position Within the balloon envelop, each of said reinforcing elements being connected throughout its length to the balloon envelop, and adjusting meansconnecting the remote ends of said reinforcing elements to the end portions of the balloon envelop, to strengthen and adjust selected areas of said balloon envelop.

5. The combination with a balloon envelop, of a plurality of flexible reinforcing elements, disposed in pairs in an end to end position within the balloon envelop, each of said reinforcing elements being connected throughout its length to the balloon envelop, adjusting means connecting the adjacent ends of said reinforcing elements to the central portion of the balloon, and adjusting means connecting the remote ends of said reinforcing elements to the end portions of said envelbpfldfiadjiist' and strengthen se 'lected areas of the balloon envelop fabric.

6. The combination with a balloon' enfabric in longitudinal alinement within the envelop and spacedfrom each' other, and ad justable meansr connecting the ends of said reinforcing members: to said envelop, to adjust the same toward and away from'e'ach other, when the envelop is inflated, whereby the fabric areas between the ends of said reinforcing elements may be adjusted to eliminate bulges and wrinkles.

7. The combination with a balloon envelop, of a cable, a covering for said cable, said covering having portions thereof attached to the envelop, and adjustable means connecting the end portions of the cable to the envelop.

8. The combination with a balloon envelop, of a cable, a covering for said cable. said covering having portions thereof attached to the envelop, and means includin, turnbuckles connecting the end portions of the cable to the envelop.

9. The combination with a balloon envelop, a pair of stifleningand reinforcing cables disposed end to end within the envelopand fastened to the same, and means including turnbuckles connecting the end portions-of the cables to the envelop.

10. The combination with a balloon ena covering on the rubber tube, said covering having portions thereof attached to the enthe envelop.v balloon en-- velop, of a cable, a rubber tube on the cable,

velop, and means including turnbuckles connecting envelop.

12. The combination with a balloon envelop, of a cable, a rubber tube on the cable. a cover on the rubber tube, said covering having portions thereof attached to the envelop, means including turnbuckles connecting the end portions of the cable to the enthe end portions ofthe cable to the velop, and an elastic cord connected between the envelop and the end portions of the covering. a

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH H. UPSQN. 

